Arcuate frame for a vehicle

ABSTRACT

An all-terrain 4 wheeled vehicle with a frame comprising an arcuate shape. In one embodiment, the arcuate shape extends from a rear axis to a front axis such that there is additional clearance over a typical non arcuate frame at a given ride height. The arcuate frame may also provide for additional structural strength. The frame may also include the ability to attach periphery accessories such as an engine cage, a passenger cage, trailing arms, power train and transmission.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to 4 wheeled vehicles, and morespecifically to all-terrain vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

All-terrain vehicles (hereinafter “ATV”) typically have a shorterwheelbase which gives the ATV increased maneuverability over longerwheelbased ATVs such as sandrails, desert trucks, and dune buggies. Theshorter wheelbase however can have shortcomings compared to a longerwheelbase. Some shortcomings may be that the occupancy area can berestricted, the center of gravity can be higher, can have a rougherride, and less horsepower.

Recreation vehicles such as sandrails, dune buggies, and desert trucks,typically have more horsepower, more clearance or able to raise thevehicle to get more clearance, more room for passengers and cargo, andmay even have a lower center of gravity than their shorter wheelbasedcounterparts. Currently, short wheelbased and long wheelbased ATVs havea frame that is flat and generally parallel to the ground. Acharacteristic of flat frames (and more pronounced in the longwheelbased ATVs) is that even though the ride height can be increased(to increase clearance) by having larger wheels and tires (the rideheight can be at the center of the wheels) and raising the frame up thismay come at the expense of losing droop (axle movement in the verticaldirection at the wheel). This can be at least partially compensated forby lowering the transmission, but this can create a susceptible “hangup” point. An increase in axle movement in the vertical direction (e.gmore droop), the easier it is for a vehicle to accommodate differencesin terrain.

It remains desirable to have a vehicle or vehicle frame that can moreeffectively deflect obstacles and protect the transmission, and allowfor increased ground clearance without sacrificing droop (withoutlowering the drive train below the frame, thus creating a susceptible“hang up” point with terrain obstacles).

DEFINITIONS

Droop—the amount of vertical motion that an axle (on the wheel side) ona vehicle can drop below the ride height.

Ride Height—amount of space between the base of an automobile tire (theportion contacting the ground) and the underside of the chassis; or,more properly, to the shortest distance between a flat, level surface,and any part of a vehicle other than those parts designed to contact theground (such as tires, tracks, skis, etc.). Ground clearance is measuredwith standard vehicle equipment, and for cars, is usually given with nocargo or passengers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop astructural frame for ATVs, which has increased ground clearance withoutlosing droop and not having a stepped down drive train. In oneembodiment, an arcuate frame (or substantially arcuate frame) thatsupports a substantial portion of the vehicle, and has a longitudinallength (length measured from rear end to front end along a straightline) of approximately 70% of the longitudinal distance between thefront and rear wheels measured in a straight perpendicular line betweenthe front wheel axis and rear wheel axis, and provides a clearance atthe center or mid point between the front and rear wheels that isgreater than a non arcuate frame without sacrificing droop. Thelongitudinal length of the arcuate frame as a percentage of theperpendicular longitudinal length between a straight axis connecting thecenter of the front wheels and a straight axis connecting the center ofthe rear wheels can vary. It may be 40%, 50%, 60% or 80%, 90% or even100%. It may depend on the length of the arcuate portion, i.e how highof a clearance is desired, or it may depend on the length of the A-armsand trailing arms for example. In addition, it may provide a non steppedor “glancing blow” protection via the substantially arcuate frame whenan obstacle is encountered underneath the vehicle frame. The structuralframe may comprise a support structure that provides an arcuate shapefrom near the front axle to near the rear axle and where the arcuateshape is designed to create more clearance and allow for more droop thana vehicle without an arcuate shape or elevated portion without droppingthe drive train below the frame. In one embodiment, a frame has acontinuous arcuate shape from the rear axle to the front axle. Theportion of the frame that has the arcuate shape may be substantiallyunder the passenger compartment of the ATV. The substantially arcuateshape may also be more structurally rigid than a non substantiallyarcuate frame. The structural frame may enable attachment of peripheralstructural structures such as an engine cage, a passenger cage, trailingarms, A-arms and other peripheral structures that are known in the art.

In various embodiments, a support frame can be constructed to comprise afront periphery, a rear periphery opposite the front periphery, a firstside periphery, a second side periphery opposite the first sideperiphery, a top periphery, a bottom periphery opposite the topperiphery and a center portion within the bounds of the peripheries. Thefront of a vehicle is in the direction of forward motion and the rear isin the direction of rearward motion and a length between the front andrear is a longitudinal length. The center portion can be made up oftrusses or it can be a substantially solid within the periphery (e.g asheet of material). The center portion can be arcuate from the frontperiphery to the rear periphery and thus may have an apex between thefront and rear boundary at the midpoint of vehicle or the midpoint ofthe distance between the front and rear wheels. The arcuate frame may besymmetrical along the longitudinal arcuate length between the frontperiphery and rear periphery or it may also not be symmetrical. In oneembodiment, the substantially arcuate frame is symmetrical along itsarcuate length from the front end to the rear end and the apex of thearcuate frame is in the middle of the vehicle as measured between thefront and rear wheels (or the front wheel center axis and the rear wheelcenter axis). For example, if the vehicle is in forward motion, thelongitudinal arcuate frame may provide a clearance at the front wheelaxis, and the clearance increases along the longitudinal arcuate shapeuntil the apex, which may be at the midpoint between the front wheelaxis and the rear wheel axis, and then the clearance decreases along thearcuate shape until it reaches the clearance at the rear wheels or rearwheels axis which may be the same clearance as the front wheel axisclearance. Then the clearance may rise again in front of the front wheelaxis and behind the rear wheel axis. The apex can be a part of acontinuous arc or radius, or it may have a length, e.g. the apex is aflat (or straight or another arcuate shape) portion in the “arc”. Theflat portion can vary and still be within the scope of the invention. Inone embodiment the flat portion may be less than 30% of the distancebetween front and rear wheels. In other embodiments it is less than 15%,10%, 5%, or 1% or less. The apex can be elevated above an imaginarystraight line or plane connecting the front and rear ends of the frame.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the description which follows, taken in conjunction withaccompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example,features of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial front view of an ATV arcuate structural frame with apassenger cage and front peripheral structures, attached A arms andwheels, attached shocks and lights in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an ATV arcuate structural frame.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an ATV with an arcuate structural frame.

FIG. 4 is a side view representation of previously used frame.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention showing anarcuate structural frame with peripheral structural accessoriesattached.

FIGS. 6 and 7 is a plan view and side view of a structural frame that issubstantially underneath the engine in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an isometric image an ATV in accordance with one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to some embodiments illustrated in thedrawings, and specific language will be used herein to describe thesame. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scopeof the invention is thereby intended. Alterations and furthermodifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, andadditional applications of the principles of the inventions asillustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant artand having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered withinthe scope of the invention.

The structural frame may support different sections of the ATV. Forexample, the frame may support the passenger compartment area 100,and/or the engine compartment 101 area, and/or the front ferring section102 area. It is also considered part of the invention if the onlyportion of the structural frame that has an arcuate shape, is theportion substantially under the passenger compartment area 100. Itshould also be noted that the structural frame can be made up of onecomponent or multiple components. It should also be understood that theinvention is not limited by how it is made as described herein.

An ATV with an arcuate frame in accordance with various embodiments aredisclosed herein and examples are illustrated in the figures. Forexample, the structural frame, passenger compartments and enginecompartments may be constructed from a structural component or member,e.g a truss or joist made out of a tubular-shaped steel alloy. However,the ATV frame and peripheral structural accessories may be assembled outof any rigid or semi-rigid material or cross sectional shape. Thestructural component may have a tubular construction typically rangingfrom approximately 0.5 inches to 3 inches in diameter or whateverdiameter is required for adequate strength. The longitudinal length ofthe vehicle varies according to individual needs but in one example, thevehicle described herein has a length from a front axle to a rear axleof approximately 9 feet 2 inches. The overall longitudinal length may beextend past the front and rear wheels. The arcuate concave support frameis configured to allow attachment of a passenger compartment 100intended to provide adequate room to accommodate at least one passengerbut also allows for up to 3 or more passengers as described herein. Thepassenger compartment 100 may also include storage locations that can bemodified per individual preferences. The passenger compartment 100 isgenerally no wider than the width of the support frame, but the widthcan be tailored to desired sizes. The maximum clearance can be at thecenter of the vehicle or the midpoint between the front and rear axles.

In various embodiments, an ATV with an arcuate frame includes at leastone passenger compartment with other peripheral attachments. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 1, shocks 106, lights 107, wheels 108, frontferring 102, A Arms 29 and 29′, a front window 31, and a roll bar 27 maybe attached. The front ferring 102 may have receptacles for receivingthe lights 107. The lights were purchased from an ATV accessory store.The front window 31 may be formed into the passenger compartment 100 byutilizing a lateral cross member 26 that extends from the passenger sideof the compartment to the driver's side of the compartment. The ATV mayfurther be configured to receive propulsion and braking activationaccessories. Foot pedals for propulsion and braking activation can bepurchased from ATV parts supplier. Braking reservoirs can also bepurchased from auto or ATV suppliers.

In various embodiments, an ATV with a substantially arcuate frame, mayinclude a passenger compartment, an engine compartment, and/or a frontferring compartment. For example, as shown by way of example in FIG. 2,the passenger compartment 100, front ferring compartment 102, and enginecompartment 101 are attached to the substantially arcuate frame 105. Thepassenger compartment 100 may also have a roll bar 27 attached to it.The roll bar construction may also provide for locations to attach foglights or other lighting accessories that can be purchased from most anyknown ATV store.

In various embodiments, as illustrated as an example, a frame can havean arcuate shape. The arcuate shape can have an apex 30, or a maximumclearance as measured from the surface the tires are on or as measuredfrom a ride height. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the ride height 10 is theclearance from the surface the tires are on to the lowest portion orbottom periphery of the frame. If the frame was not arcuate, and wassubstantially flat, and it was parallel and in plane with a planeconnecting the centers (128, 130) of the front and rear wheels, themaximum clearance would be the same as the ride height. With an arcuateframe, the maximum clearance is greater, depending on how much of aradius is in the arcuate shape or how much the frame is elevated abovethe ride height. In some cases, in order to gain maximum clearance, theparallel frame is raised above the ride height. When a parallel or nonarcuate frame is raised above the ride height, the axle may be angled(this can be at least in part compensated by lowering the transmissionbelow the frame and thus create a potentially susceptible place for theATV to get hung up on when obstacles are encountered), and using up aportion of the total amount of droop available, or the amount the axleis allowed to fall when the wheels do not have contact with the ridingsurface. With an arcuate frame, a portion of the center portion,typically near the front and rear end, can be at the same height or nearthe same height as the ride height or the centers (128,130) of thewheels. In one embodiment, a portion of a center portion (the centerportion comprises any material that is between the front end, rear end,first side, second side, top side and bottom side of a frame) is at thesame height as the center (128,130) of the wheels. In one embodiment, aportion that is in line with the rear wheel axis 126 and the front wheelaxis 124 is the rear end and front end of the frame. In one embodimentthis puts the transmission inlet approximately 4 inches (or half thedistance of the total diameter of the gears) above the center (130) ofthe wheels and approximately 4 inches above line 33′.

In various embodiments, the passenger compartment can have variousdimensions. In one embodiment, as shown by way of example in FIG. 2, thepassenger compartment height 109, from the top of the passengercompartment 100 to the bottom of the apex 30 of the substantiallyarcuate frame or elevated portion is approximately 3 feet 8 inches butcan vary depending on desired space. In one embodiment, the passengercompartment width 110 (and passenger support frame width) isapproximately 6 feet 4 inches wide and the passenger compartment length111 (and passenger support frame length) is approximately 6 feet 4inches long and the length between the wheel is 9 feet 2 inches. Thelength of the frame is in a longitudinal direction and the width of theframe is in a lateral direction. Any desirable configuration may beshaped.

In various embodiments, the ATV with an elevated portion on a frame, canhave various configurations. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, theframe may be configured for a rearward engine compartment 101 intendedto at least partially surround, or act as a boundary for, the engine,power train, and/or transmission of the vehicle. A structural portionbeneath the engine referred to as an engine support section 25 may beshaped to be substantially in a radius of curvature of the substantiallyarcuate shape 28 of the structural frame 105 continued on from apassenger support section 18. The arcuate shape 28 may be alongitudinally arcuate shape, meaning the arcuate shape has an apexbetween the front wheel axis 124 and the rear wheel axis 126. A frontferring support section 36 of the frame 105 may also be in thesubstantially arcuate shape 28 continued from the passenger supportsection 18. In one embodiment, a portion of the front ferring sectionmay be in the arcuate shape when a portion is behind the front axis 124of the front wheels. In another embodiment a portion of the frontferring section is diverging away from the riding surface, e.g. when thefront ferring section is in front of the front axis 124 of the frontwheels. The substantially arcuate shape, can be determined by fitting aline from a rear end to a front end of the frame through the componentsor trusses or sheet making up the arcuate portion, and having thecomponents being within approximately 2 inches of the fitted line. Theframe may be made of a structure having a front end, a rear end, a topboundary, a bottom boundary, a first side, a second side, and shapedinto a continuous arcuate shape by forming multiple bends or angles, andthus having multiple straight or curved portions separated by bends (orarcuate portions separated by bends) and each straight or arcuateportion being within 2 inches of a fitted arcuate line. In oneembodiment the straight (or arcuate) portions are within ½ inch of afitted line thus making it difficult to see that it is not in asubstantially perfect arcuate shape or radius.

In one embodiment, a rear end 12 of an engine support section 25 of aframe may become the rear end of the structural frame as a whole. Thestructural frame 105 may be substantially under a passenger compartment100, or it may continue on under the engine support section 25 but it isnot a requirement that the frame have an engine support section 25 or afront ferring section 36. In one embodiment, a structural support frame105 is substantially under a passenger compartment 100 and does not havean engine support section 25, a rear end 12′ is bounded as a rear truss7. In another embodiment, where a structural support frame has an enginesupport section 25 as shown in FIG. 3, a rear end 12 is bounded as asecond lateral support truss 5. In these described embodiments the frontend 11 (without a front ferring section 36), is bounded as the frontlateral truss 13 and trusses 17 and 17′. The front end of the arcuateframe may be in line with the front wheels or it may be in front of thefront wheels or it may be behind the front wheels. In one embodiment,the front end of the frame is behind the wheels, and the A-arms connectfrom the front end to the front wheels via an axle. The rear end of thearcuate frame may be in line with the rear wheels or it may be in frontof the rear wheels or it may be behind the rear wheels. In oneembodiment, a rear end of the frame is in front of the rear wheel(s),and a trailing arm(s) connects from the rear end(s) to the rear wheel(s)via an axle(s). In one embodiment, a center portion of a frame that isbetween the center 128 of the front wheels and the center 130 of therear wheels is in a substantially arcuate shape (an arcuate shape wherean apex allows a maximum clearance and may be in a concave shape towardsa riding surface) and any remaining center portions of the frame thatare in front of the center of the front wheels and behind the center ofthe rear wheels diverges away from the riding surface.

In various embodiments there may be a front ferring. As an example andillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a front ferring support section 36 is apart of a frame 105, a front end may be 11′, bounded by the frontferring support section 36 and trusses 17 and 17′. A center portion 40may include all structural material within bounds of an outerperipheries of the structural support frame 105. The outer peripheriesare the front end 11 or 11′, a rear end 12 or 12′, a first side 112 or asecond side 112′, a top side 116 and a bottom side 118. The outerperipheries may comprise trusses 7, 10, 10′, 17, 17′, 14, 15, 16, 21,22, the front ferring support section 36, and/or sections 1, 1′, 2, 2′,5.

In various embodiments and as illustrated as an example in FIG. 2, animaginary straight line 33′ can be connected from a front end 11 and arear end 12 or 12′. In one embodiment, a longitudinal support member maynot have a lateral cross member. In this case, the imaginary straightline is connected from the front end and the rear end of thelongitudinal member. The imaginary (straight) line can be connectedbetween with a tangent line between the bottom most portion of the frontend and the rear end as shown in FIG. 2.

In various embodiments and as illustrated in the FIG. 2 as an example, atop side 116 and a bottom side 118 are shown. The top side and bottomside are a periphery, or a plane in some cases, that a cover or skincould be applied along.

An engine may alternatively be supported by a passenger support section18 or have alternate supports off of the passenger support section 18.An engine compartment 101 may house any engine, such as an Acura 6cylinder engine with a manual transmission. Such power systems areavailable from auto salvage yards or may be removed from any desirableauto vehicle or purchased on the open market. The engine may be equippedwith a transfer case that includes park and reverse. The engine may alsobe equipped with a turbo accessory.

A structural support frame 105, or referred to as the frame, may befurther configured to receive a steering wheel 127 and instrument panelfor direction control and operation of the vehicle. The instrument panelmay be equipped with a single round faced VDO instrument cluster thatgives a steady flow of information: RPM, speed, odometer, trip odometer,hour meter, engine service light, battery indicator, and fuel gauge withempty, full and intermediate indicators. A steering system may be a rackand pinion design intended to minimize jerking of the steering wheel andmaximize control of the vehicle. A winch or other accessories may beattached to a front of the frame and a trailer hitch may be attached toa rear.

In various embodiments, as shown by example in FIG. 3, a frame 105 maybe configured to receive trailing arms 23 and 24 and front A arms 29 and29′ for attaching a front axle 113 and 113′ and a rear axle 6 and 6′.The A arms 29 and 29′ and the trailing arms 23 and 24 may be designed toalso substantially or partially lie in an arcuate curve 28 with thestructural support frame 105. In one embodiment, the entire structuralsupport frame from near the front axles 113 and 113′ to near the rearaxles 6 and 6′ is in a continuous or substantially continuous arcuateshape 28. The arcuate portion of the frame may start on either side ofthe axles and continue to either side of the opposite axle. The A arms29 and 29′ and the trailing arms 23 and 24 may also follow the arcuateshape 28. The A arms 29 and 29′ and the trailing arms 23 and 24 wereattached (in one example) to the structural frame at approximately 10degrees to approximately follow the arcuate shape 28. The arcuate shapehad a radius 35 of approximately 9 feet.

A frame may further be configured to at least partially receive a floorfor passengers to place their feet. The floor may be a thinner piece ofsheet metal. The sheet metal used (in one embodiment) was approximately¼ inch thick. A vehicle may further be configured to at least partiallyreceive “skins” or a covering to the vehicle. The covering may be asheetmetal or other desired covering.

In various embodiments, a frame can comprise an arcuate shape, andshaped in various methods. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the arcuateframe of passenger section 18 comprises two 1.75 inch diameter steeltubular shaped side trusses 10 and 10′ cut to a length of approximately78 inches. Support member 10 may be along a first side 112, and supportmember 10′ may be along a second side 112′ opposite the first side. Thetrusses were then shaped into an arcuate shape between the rear end 12′and the front end 11. The frame may have at least one center portion 40that extends between the rear end 12′ and front end 11. As shown in FIG.2, the center portion 40 has approximately 5 inches vertical height 32of clearance at the apex 30 of the arcuate shape as measuredperpendicularly from a straight imaginary line 33 connecting the frontfacing end 11 and the rear facing end 12′. The height 32, above rideheight, of the apex 30 is variable, for example 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or8 inches or more, and dependent on the desirable clearance or thedistance between the wheels. The greater the distance between the wheelsthe higher the clearance may tend to be. The arcuate shape may becreated by bending in one continuous fixed arc or bending in multiplesmaller arcs (or straight portions) to create one substantially arcuateshape. The shaping process can be performed in any known ways in theart. The shaping process may be performed by a metal shapingmanufacturer that shapes steel. The shaping process may alternately bemade by shaping the trusses over a mandrel such as a 6 inch radiusmandrel and creating a number of smaller bends, such as 5 evenly spacedbends along the length (6 portions), in the truss such that the endresult of the truss is that it is substantially in an arcuate shape. Inother embodiments, there may be more bends and straight portions orthere may be a mix of straight portions with arcuate portions. In someembodiments, there may be 4 straight or arcuate portions with 3 bends orangles or 5 straight or arcuate portions with 4 bends or 7 straight orarcuate portions with 6 bends to make up the substantially arcuateshape. Other combinations can be used. The more bends that are used toshape the member the more the end shape may be to a true arcuate orfixed radius shape. In one embodiment there is a continuous arcuate orfixed radius shape. Any known method of bending the tube or truss orsheet or other structural configurations may be used.

In various embodiments, an arcuate portion of a frame has a rear end 12or 12′ and a front end 11 or 11′ and may have an arcuate shape. The rearend and front end may be in line with the rear wheels and front wheelsrespectively or they may not be in line. The passenger support section18 may be in a continuous arcuate shape, the arcuate shape may becontinued or substantially continued by A arms 29 and 29′ the trailingarms 23 and 24. The arcuate shape may also be continued by the enginesupport section 25. The engine support section then may diverge intoanother arcuate shape or straight shape to create clearance. Thepassenger support section 18 may have a length 111 as measured from rearend to front end (not along the arcuate shape but along a straight lineconnecting the front end to the rear end) of 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%,80%, 90% or more of the total distance as measured between the wheels.In one embodiment, as an example was built with the passenger supportsection is approximately 69% (as measured from rear end to furthestpoint of the front end) of the total distance between the wheels and isin a continuous arcuate shape. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the rear end12 (of the arcuate frame) is near rear axle 6, and more specifically isat a second lateral truss 5. The rear end 12 or second lateral truss maybe in front of the rear axle 6 or rear of the rear axle 6. In thisembodiment, the apex 30 of the frame, or the portion of the frame thathas the most clearance, is approximately 8 inches above ride height,shown as 32′ above an imaginary straight line 33′ (FIG. 2) drawn fromthe second lateral truss 5, or rear end 12, to the front lateral truss13, or front end 11 of the arcuate frame. Line 33′ in this case is atthe same plane as the ride height 10. The apex 30 in this case is at themidpoint between the front and rear wheels. The apex 30 can have aclearance of whatever is desired. It can be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 12 or more inches. In this embodiment, the clearance, or theperpendicular distance from the line 33′ to the frame is different thanan adjacent point along the arcuate portion of the frame, i.e the frameis not parallel to the imaginary line 33′ (in other embodiments thereare portions that may be parallel e.g an apex). The radius 35 wasapproximately 9 feet but can be variable depending on what clearance isdesired.

FIG. 4 shows a non arcuate frame 400 that has been raised above rideheight 10 to achieve similar clearance 402 as an arcuate shaped framecould achieve as illustrated by line 28. By raising previously usedframes 400 you can lose droop as shown by distance 404. In addition, anarcuate frame as illustrated by line 28 may protect the transmission 406by providing a structure from near an apex of the frame towards a rearend of the arcuate structure. In one embodiment, the frame slopes fromthe apex to the rear end of the arcuate frame creating a non 90 degreestepped down protection of the transmission so that an obstacle that isencountered under the frame will have less chance of hanging up on theframe. A frame with straight or arcuate portions with bends or angles tocreate an arc may have an angle (or in case of an arc an equivalentangle) 407 of 45 degrees from a rear end or front end to aid indefending against “hang up” or getting high centered. In otherembodiments, the angle is greater than 45 degrees. An arcuate portionfrom an apex to a rear end can help maximize clearance as compared to astraight section from the apex to the rear end.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a chassis for an ATV with an arcuate frame,front ferring section, rear engine section, a passenger compartment andengine compartment and front ferring compartment in accordance with anembodiment of this invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, the frame may have an arcuate orelevated portion to the rear of the rear axle and to the front of therear axle. The frame may angle away from imaginary line 33′ in astraight or arcuate fashion. In one embodiment, the most rear portion ofthe structural frame (as compared to a rear portion of the arcuateportion) is the first lateral truss 3. The first lateral truss 3 iselevated above the rear axle, i.e point 39′ is higher above the rearaxle than point 38. The frame between truss 5 and location 39′ can becontinuous and on a straight trajectory or an arcuate trajectory. Thisallows for clearance rear of the rear axle 6. The Sections 1 and 2 canbe on the arcuate shape. As shown in FIG. 7, sections 1 and 2 areapproximately in a continuous arcuate shape.

FIG. 8 shows an ATV with an arcuate frame with an apex 30 at theapproximate center between the front wheels and the rear wheels. Apassenger compartment 100 and engine compartment 101 are shown.

The frame can be constructed in various ways and be in the spirit of theinvention. One way of constructing the frame is shown by way of anexample in FIG. 3. The drivers side or left side truss 10 and thepassenger side or right side truss 10′ have an end face 34 and 34′. A 23inch bend radius 17 and 17′ were formed by measuring 35 inches from theend faces 34 and 34′ respectively and forming the radius 17 and 17′ suchthat as shown in FIG. 3. The two side trusses 10 and 10′ will have abend radius portion 17 and 17′ such that they are shaped towards theother. The two side trusses 10 and 10′ are spaced apart on a surfaceapproximately 64 inches. A front lateral truss 13 was cut to 11 inchesand used to join the two arcuate shaped side trusses 10 and 10′ togetheras shown in FIG. 3. The two shaped side trusses 10 and 10′ were used asa passenger side truss 10′ and as a driver side truss 10. The passengerside truss 10′ and the drivers side truss 10′ define the left and rightor drivers side and passengers side boundaries of the passengerstructural support section 18 of the frame. The structural support framemay further comprise a rear cross truss 7 cut to length. In anembodiment, the 1.75″ diameter steel tubular rear cross truss 7 waspurchased from a steel manufacturer. The rear cross truss 7 was cut toapproximately 74 inches. The rear cross truss 7 has a passenger end 19′and a drivers end 19 defining the two ends of the steel tube. The rearcross truss 7 was shaped to have a bend 20 and 20′ on each end and wereshaped in the same direction. The rear cross truss bends 20 and 20′ werecreated by measuring 7 inches from an end 19 and 19′ and shaping a 4inch radius such that the rear cross truss 7 would join up to thedrivers side truss 10 and the passenger side truss 10′. The rear crosstruss 7 was attached via welding. Any attachment method known in therelative art may be used. The attachment methods may vary depending onwhat materials are actually used to create the rigid arcuate structure105. In one embodiment, the frame 105 may further comprise longitudinalcenter supports or trusses 21 and 22. Like all the trusses, thelongitudinal center supports have a first end and a second end oppositethe first end with a center portion between the first end and secondend. Two 72 inch long×1.75 inch diameter steel tubes (21 and 22) wereshaped in the arcuate shape with approximately a 5 inch apex verticalelevation or 5 inch height from a straight line connecting the two ends,as the two side trusses 10 and 10′ were shaped. The two center supports21 and 22 were attached via welding with one end attached to the rearcross truss 7 and the opposite end attached to trusses 17 and 17′ nearthe front end 11 at a lateral distance from the side trusses 10 and 10′of 22 inches. The frame may further comprise lateral support trusses 14,15, and 16. In one embodiment, a 1.75 inch diameter steel lateralsupport truss was purchased from a steel manufacturer at an approximatelength of 8 feet. The support was cut into 3 pieces 14, 15, 16 to fitthe spaces between the side trusses 10 and 10′ and the longitudinalcenter supports 21 and 22 and between the longitudinal center supports21 and 22 as shown in FIG. 3. The two lateral supports 14 and 16 thatattached to the side trusses 10 and 10′ were cut at approximately 22inches and the other lateral support 15 was cut at approximately 20inches. The lateral supports 14, 15, and 16 were attached by weldingnear the apex of the arcuate shape of the longitudinal supports 21 and22 and the two side trusses 10 and 10′. The a-arms 23 and 24 are shownattached. All the longitudinal portions (10, 10′, 17, 17′, 21 and 22)were formed into an arcuate shape in a similar manner, i.e by bendingover an approximately 6 inch radius mandrel at 5 approximately evenlyspaced distances to create a substantially arcuate shape. This examplecreated a passenger support section for a frame.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, the arcuate frame may further partiallycomprise an engine support structure 25. The engine support structuremay at least partially lie in the arcuate plane of the arcuate frame.When the engine support section diverges upward from the axle height theengine support section can be rearward of the rear axle for moreclearance. An engine support section was created as follows: Two 1.75inch diameter first longitudinal engine trusses were cut to 5 inches andjoined to the passenger rear cross joist at a distance approximately 24inches from the outside edge of the side trusses and angled down suchthat the pieces were substantially in plane with the arcuate shape ofthe frame of the passenger support section. Two more second longitudinalengine trusses 2 and 2′ of 1.5 inch diameter were cut at a length ofapproximately 23 inches and a first angle 37, approximately 67 degrees,was placed at a distance of 13 inches along the length of both secondlongitudinal engine trusses 2 and 2′. A second angle 38 of approximately25 degrees was shaped upwardly at a distance of 12 inches from the rearend 39 and 39′ of the second longitudinal engine supports 2 and 2′. Thesecond longitudinal engine supports 2 and 2′ were joined to the twofirst longitudinal engine supports 1 and 1′ such that the first angles37 and 37′ were spaced laterally 32 inches apart. A first lateral enginesupport 3 was cut to 20 inches and attached to the two rear ends 39 and39′ of the second longitudinal engine trusses 2 and 2′. A second lateralengine truss 5 was cut to 29 inches and attached to the two secondlongitudinal engine trusses 2 and 2′ at a distance of approximately 12inches from rear ends 39 and 39′ of the two second longitudinal enginesupport trusses 2 and 2′. This example created the engine supportsection 25 of the structural frame 105.

In various embodiments an arcuate frame may further comprise a frontferring section as shown by example in the figures. The ferring sectionsupport may be in a concave arcuate shape 28 towards a riding surface,with one end towards the front of the vehicle and the other end towardsthe back of the vehicle, e.g when behind the center 128 of the frontwheels or the front axis 124. The ferring section may diverge away fromthe riding surface, e.g when in front of the center 128 of the frontwheels or front axis 124. A front ferring section 36 may attach to apassenger support section 18. Two 1.75″ diameter steel tube 120 trussapproximately 10 inches long was cut and shaped similarly as shown inFIG. 3. This may be the bottom most portion of the front ferringcompartment, i.e the front ferring section 36. A cross member 122 mayjoin trusses 120. A front ferring compartment 102 was added to the frontferring support section 36 as shown in FIG. 1. The front ferring supportsection that was in front of the center 128 of the front wheels divergedaway from the riding surface.

In an alternative embodiment, the arcuate structure may be made from asingle piece of material such as a metallic alloy sheet and then shapedinto an arcuate shape. If a single sheet of material is used as theframe, it will be realized that cross joists and longitudinal trussesthat are described herein may not be necessary to provide strength tothe frame but still may be desired to be added to the arcuate sheet.

The arcuate shape may start at the rear wheels and end at or very nearthe front wheels. The arcuate shape may also start and end in a regionbetween the front and rear axles or between the front wheels axis 124and the rear wheels axis 126. For example, the portion of the frame thatis below the passenger compartment may be substantially on thelongitudinally arcuate shape and the portion of the frame that is belowthe engine compartment may have a portion on this longitudinally arcuateshape and another portion not on the longitudinally arcuate shape.Furthermore, the frame may have a portion that has a concave shape, forexample a concave shape spanning a distance between the front and rearwheels, and then have a convex shape or diverging up of the framerearward of the rear wheels. In another embodiment the engine portion ofthe frame may not have any arcuate shape. The arcuate shape may be madeup of more than 1 straight section.

A variety of wheel sizes may be attached to the wheel hub typicallyranging from 8 to 18 inches Wide and from 24 to 48 inches in diameter.Additionally, a variety of wheel types may also be attached to the wheelhub ranging from studded, all weather, snow, and sand dune tires. In oneembodiment the lateral width of the vehicle, as measured from thevertical plane of the outside wheels does not exceed 100 inches.

It is to be understood that the above reference arrangement are onlyillustrative of the application for the principles of the presentinvention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements can bedevised without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. While the present invention has been shown in the drawingsand fully described above with particularity and detail in connectionwith what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferredembodiment(s) of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinaryskill in the art that numerous modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the principles and concepts of the invention as set forthherein.

What is claimed is:
 1. An All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) comprising: a frontwheel having a center axis extending through the front wheel; a rearwheel having a center axis extending through the rear wheel; a framecomprising; a structural component, for supporting at least a portion ofa vehicle, having a rear end; a front end; and a longitudinal lengthbetween a front wheel axis and the rear wheel axis; wherein thestructural component is shaped to have an apex along the longitudinallength, and wherein the apex is elevated at least 2 inches above astraight line connecting the rear wheel axis and the front wheel axis;wherein the structural component comprises a continuous arcuate shapedportion located at a center point between the front wheel axis and therear wheel axis, and wherein the arcuate shaped portion of thestructural component extends from said center point toward the front andrear wheel axes.
 2. The All-Terrain Vehicle of claim 1, wherein theframe further comprises a passenger compartment.
 3. The All-TerrainVehicle of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises an enginecompartment.
 4. The All-Terrain Vehicle of claim 1, wherein thestructural component is a continuous arcuate shape from the rear end tothe front end.
 5. The All-Terrain Vehicle of claim 1, wherein thestructural component is a continuous arcuate shape from the front wheelaxis and the rear wheel axis.
 6. The All-Terrain Vehicle of claim 1,wherein the continuous arcuate shaped portion extends at least 40% ofthe longitudinal length between the front wheel axis and the rear wheelaxis.
 7. An All-Terrain Vehicle comprising: a front wheel having acenter axis extending through the front wheel; a rear wheel having acenter axis extending through the rear wheel; a frame comprising; afront lateral truss; a rear lateral truss; at least one longitudinaltruss, having a rear end and a front end connecting to the front and therear lateral truss; wherein the longitudinal truss is arcuate shapedhaving a continuous arc shape from the front truss and the rear trusswith an apex between the front truss and the rear truss; and wherein theapex of the continuous arcuate shaped longitudinal truss is elevatedmore than 2 inches above a straight line connecting the front wheelcenter axis and the rear wheel center axis.
 8. The All-Terrain Vehicleframe of claim 7 wherein the apex is located at a mid-point between thefront lateral truss and the rear lateral truss.
 9. The All-TerrainVehicle frame of claim 7 wherein the arcuate shaped longitudinal trusshas a radius of 9 ft or more.
 10. An All-Terrain Vehicle comprising:front wheels with a center, and a front wheel axis connecting the centerof the front wheels; rear wheels with a center, and a rear wheel axisconnecting the center of the rear wheels; a frame comprising: a frontend, a rear end, a first side, a second side, a top side, a bottom side,and a center portion; wherein the front end, rear end, first side,second side, top side, bottom side define an outer periphery; andwherein the center portion is within the outer periphery, and whereinthe center portion extending longitudinally between the front axis andthe rear axis is arcuate shaped; wherein the center portion comprising acontinuous arcuate shaped portion located at a center point between thefront wheel axis and rear wheel axis and wherein the continuous arcuateshaped portion extends from a center point, between the front wheel axisand rear wheel axis, toward the front and rear wheel axes; and whereinthe continuous arcuate shaped portion of the center portion has an apexelevated above at least 2 inches above a straight line connecting therear wheel axis and the front wheel axis.
 11. The All-Terrain Vehicle ofclaim 10, wherein the continuous arcuate shaped portion of the centerportion extends at least 40% of a longitudinal length between the frontwheel axis and the rear wheel axis.
 12. The All-Terrain Vehicle of claim10, wherein the frame comprises tubular construction.
 13. TheAll-Terrain Vehicle of claim 10, wherein the continuous arcuate shapedportion of the center portion has an apex elevated above at least 5inches above a straight line connecting the rear wheel axis and thefront wheel axis.
 14. The All-Terrain Vehicle of claim 10, wherein thecenter portion is continuously arcuate shaped from the front wheel axisand the rear wheel axis.
 15. The All-Terrain Vehicle of claim 10,wherein the frame further comprises an engine support structure, whereinthe engine support structure rises above a plane connecting the rearwheel axis and the front wheel axis.
 16. The All-Terrain Vehicle ofclaim 1, wherein the apex is located at a midpoint between the frontwheel axis and the rear wheel axis.
 17. The All-Terrain Vehicle of claim1, wherein the structural component that extends between the front wheelaxis and the rear wheel axis does not extend below a line extendingbetween said front wheel axis and the rear wheel axis.
 18. TheAll-Terrain Vehicle of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a tubularconstruction.
 19. The All-Terrain Vehicle of claim 1, wherein the framecontinues rearward of the rear wheel axis and rises above a planeconnecting the rear wheel center axis and the front wheel center axis.20. The All-Terrain Vehicle of claim 7, wherein the frame comprisestubular construction.